The Second Sea Lord is the sponsor for Devonport infrastructure and chairs a wider portfolio board to govern progress. Programme governance includes representatives from the Royal Navy, Defence Nuclear Organisation, Submarine Delivery Group, Defence Infrastructure Organisation and Babcock.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Obese-Jecty) to question 19170 on the 2 September 2026.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-07-15/19170

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Obese-Jecty) to question 19170 (questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-07-15/19170)

The payment in relation to DPDY 3 Basin was for project costs following an initial solution, that was subsequently found to be unsuitable and could not be progressed.

As part of Project Royal Oak, £7.1 billion will be invested in HMNB Devonport and Devonport Dockyard over the next decade. This investment includes continued upgrades to 15 Dock to enhance capability and resilience for the submarine maintenance programme, the modernisation of 10 Dock, and completion of the 14 Dock recommissioning programme, which will enable legacy submarine defuelling operations to resume. It also includes broader infrastructure renewal and maintenance across the site.

This significant investment reflects both historic underinvestment in infrastructure and evolving operational requirements. The 15 Dock programme has already enabled the successful docking of the first Astute-class submarine at Devonport.

Following the nuclear regulatory review, we are currently exploring opportunities to accelerate work on 10 and 14 Dock, and we continue to drive forward delivery of these projects at the earliest possible opportunity.

As part of Project Royal Oak, £7.1 billion will be invested in HMNB Devonport and Devonport Dockyard over the next decade. This investment includes continued upgrades to 15 Dock to enhance capability and resilience for the submarine maintenance programme, the modernisation of 10 Dock, and completion of the 14 Dock recommissioning programme, which will enable legacy submarine defuelling operations to resume. It also includes broader infrastructure renewal and maintenance across the site.

This significant investment reflects both historic underinvestment in infrastructure and evolving operational requirements. The 15 Dock programme has already enabled the successful docking of the first Astute-class submarine at Devonport.

Following the nuclear regulatory review, we are currently exploring opportunities to accelerate work on 10 and 14 Dock, and we continue to drive forward delivery of these projects at the earliest possible opportunity.

As part of Project Royal Oak, £7.1 billion will be invested in HMNB Devonport and Devonport Dockyard over the next decade. This investment includes continued upgrades to 15 Dock to enhance capability and resilience for the submarine maintenance programme, the modernisation of 10 Dock, and completion of the 14 Dock recommissioning programme, which will enable legacy submarine defuelling operations to resume. It also includes broader infrastructure renewal and maintenance across the site.

This significant investment reflects both historic underinvestment in infrastructure and evolving operational requirements. The 15 Dock programme has already enabled the successful docking of the first Astute-class submarine at Devonport.

Following the nuclear regulatory review, we are currently exploring opportunities to accelerate work on 10 and 14 Dock, and we continue to drive forward delivery of these projects at the earliest possible opportunity.

The Devonport Infrastructure Programme is making significant progress in modernising facilities at His Majesty’s Naval Base Devonport to reinforce its role as the Royal Navy’s centre for submarine deep maintenance. Upgrades to docking and waterfront infrastructure have already enabled Astute Class submarines to undertake maintenance activities in Devonport, with further improvements continuing across the site.

The programme is also delivering additional support for current and future submarine classes, the recommencement of the submarine defueling programme, and new maintenance berthing capacity, strengthening the Royal Navy’s overall warfighting readiness.

We are currently reviewing opportunities to accelerate work following the nuclear regulatory review and we continue to press for the earliest possible delivery of the projects.

The Defence Investment Plan commits £7.1 billion of infrastructure investment at HMNB Devonport over the next decade as part of Project Royal Oak. This investment will deliver major upgrades and renewal across the Naval Base and Dockyard site. Including enhancements to docks and wider renewal and maintenance across the site; strengthening the Royal Navy’s ability to support submarines, ships and the Continuous at Sea Deterrent.

Current capabilities which would be used to defeat cruise missiles, drone swarms and ballistic missiles include existing Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force capabilities. Type 45 destroyers, Ground Based Air Defence, Combat Air platforms and supporting air defence sensing and command and control, as well as Counter-Uncrewed Air System capabilities would all play a part in a response.

His Majesty’s Government announced a £1 billion UK spend on Integrated Air and Missile Defence in the Strategic Defence Review which will shape future Integrated Air and Missile Defence capability. Further announcement on Integrated Air and Missile Defence investment will be made within the Defence Investment Plan.

We have also recently approved £318 million for dragonfire which will help support protection against air threats with the first system being installed on a type 45 destroyer in 2027.

Yes. The offload of radioactive materials at Devonport predominantly occurs through the maintenance, upkeep or refit work on our in-service submarines or the removal of radioactive materials from decommissioned submarines stored at Devonport.

All such materials are safely handled, stored and managed to final disposal in accordance with relevant statute, regulated by the Office for Nuclear Regulation and the Environment Agency as appropriate.

Recommencing the Defuel programme of our decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines in Devonport means that used nuclear fuel will be removed. This used fuel will be transported to the Sellafield site for safe storage pending potential re-processing / re-use.

The Submarine Waterfront Infrastructure Future (SWIF) programme will provide facilities to locations such as Devenport that include a new non-tidal maintenance berth in 5 Basin, a refurbished 10 Dock, and supporting buildings and services. Significant planning has been undertaken in preparation for build, including working with the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and de-risking the site for construction.

The construction phase of the berth has commenced, with the excavation of more than 18,000 cubic metres of material, which will form the 280-metre-long tunnel that will carry electrical, water, communications and air services vital to the nuclear safety and maintenance of berthed submarines. The berth wall will be formed from a series of precast concrete reinforced sections secured by rock anchor to provide the required stability; as a precursor to this work four trial anchors are currently under construction.

Progress against 10 dock refurbishment includes trial build activity and the fabrication of a dockyard concrete batching plant, which will support the pace required during main dock construction. Significant volumes of concrete were also poured in the Spring this year, the biggest single pour in 20 years at the dockyard, to form the base of the caisson which seals the dock. The next phase of caisson construction activity is due to commence in the coming days.

The Submarine Waterfront Infrastructure Future (SWIF) programme will provide facilities to locations such as Devenport that include a new non-tidal maintenance berth in 5 Basin, a refurbished 10 Dock, and supporting buildings and services. Significant planning has been undertaken in preparation for build, including working with the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and de-risking the site for construction.

The construction phase of the berth has commenced, with the excavation of more than 18,000 cubic metres of material, which will form the 280-metre-long tunnel that will carry electrical, water, communications and air services vital to the nuclear safety and maintenance of berthed submarines. The berth wall will be formed from a series of precast concrete reinforced sections secured by rock anchor to provide the required stability; as a precursor to this work four trial anchors are currently under construction.

Progress against 10 dock refurbishment includes trial build activity and the fabrication of a dockyard concrete batching plant, which will support the pace required during main dock construction. Significant volumes of concrete were also poured in the Spring this year, the biggest single pour in 20 years at the dockyard, to form the base of the caisson which seals the dock. The next phase of caisson construction activity is due to commence in the coming days.

The Submarine Waterfront Infrastructure Future (SWIF) programme will provide facilities to locations such as Devenport that include a new non-tidal maintenance berth in 5 Basin, a refurbished 10 Dock, and supporting buildings and services. Significant planning has been undertaken in preparation for build, including working with the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and de-risking the site for construction.

The construction phase of the berth has commenced, with the excavation of more than 18,000 cubic metres of material, which will form the 280-metre-long tunnel that will carry electrical, water, communications and air services vital to the nuclear safety and maintenance of berthed submarines. The berth wall will be formed from a series of precast concrete reinforced sections secured by rock anchor to provide the required stability; as a precursor to this work four trial anchors are currently under construction.

Progress against 10 dock refurbishment includes trial build activity and the fabrication of a dockyard concrete batching plant, which will support the pace required during main dock construction. Significant volumes of concrete were also poured in the Spring this year, the biggest single pour in 20 years at the dockyard, to form the base of the caisson which seals the dock. The next phase of caisson construction activity is due to commence in the coming days.

The current estimate for the costs of infrastructure improvement works at Devonport including the Naval Base and Dockyard are £5 billion. This important activity, which includes works at HMNB Devonport and investment in Devonport Dockyard, will support the Royal Navy’s military outputs for decades to come.

These works include areas of the Nuclear Authorised and Licensed Sites at Devonport and will include the removal, upgrade and replacement of equipment/systems which have been identified as radioactive.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 65493 from the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Helen Maguire) on 14 July 2025.

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-07-07/65493#

It is not possible to provide an assured cost estimate to dismantle the Pressurised Water Reactors on the decommissioned submarines at Devonport and Rosyth. Once the demonstrator submarine, SWIFTSURE, has achieved full dismantling in 2026 the Department will have a better understanding of cost estimates for the submarine dismantling process, subject to future commercial negotiations.

The Defence Nuclear Enterprise continues to work closely with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to ensure collaboration on submarine disposal.